Sweaty people all around you, the type of music you’re not really a fan of in a volume that is almost deafening, waiting for the machine you need for about 10 minutes, spending a small fortune on memberships and gas, and not to mention the time spent commuting from your home to the gym…I totally get it why you’re fed up and don’t feel like working out anymore. Plus, it’s January and we all know what that means – people try to stick to their New Year’s resolutions to be fitter and more active, thus, gyms are more crowded than ever. But don’t let all this stay in the way of you living the life that makes you feel good, as we all know that working out is a great stress reliever and mood booster. Plus, it’s your ally to sculpting your body the way you want it to look like.

So how about creating your very own home gym? This pretty much sounds to me like a dream come true for many fitness enthusiasts – waking up with the chance to kickstart the day the ultimate way – lifting weights and blowing off some steam. But as appealing as it may seem at first, there are some things to consider and plan ahead. You do need to put in some work to design the space in that spirit, and most importantly, visit a well-equipped gym shop to get the essential pieces you need. Here are a few tips to ensure you will create your own space you’ll look forward to working out in.

The Perfect Atmosphere

Setting the ambience is easily the most enjoyable part in creating your own workout space. Your gym should be all about what motivates you personally. Of course, looking good is probably among your top drives, so include a full length mirror to check out your progress or yell at yourself when you feel like giving up. Design the rest of the environment to your character. This could involve including motivational posters of people who inspire you, getting a loud stereo system for your favourite workout songs and painting the walls in your favourite colour. Just do whatever makes you feel good and happy!

The Right Equipment

Basically, what you should buy depends on your fitness goal – is it weight loss, strength boosting, balancing, or maybe all of the above? If you’re looking to do a lot of cardio working out, the most basic thing you’ll need to buy from a reliable gym shop is a treadmill. Spending at least 20 minutes a day on it will have positive effects on your cardiovascular system and will significantly increase your endurance threshold. You can also include a rowing machine or a stationary bike if you have enough space.

If your goal is to look buff, you cannot do it without the good-old dumbbells. They are also good for weight loss and proper rib cage development. If you’re not sure how much you can lift, buy dumbells of various weights. Use them in accordance with your abilities and increase the weight you’re lifting with time. And yes, don’t forget to buy a weight lifting bench which will enable you to perform a variety of movements and exercises. Also, a good quality stability ball can also be used for muscle toning, improving your balance and spinal stabilization.

Stick to a Good Program

Once you’ve designed your gym, it’s time to get to work. Set a workout program to achieve your goals faster and stick to it. Your program should be focused on your main goal, but it should not disregard the other types of exercises as well. The formula goes like this: 50% exercise time for your goal and 50% of the time distributed for all other core exercises equally. For example, if cardio is your main choice and you have 1 hour to work out, half an hour should be reserved for cardio only, and 10 minutes for strength, balancing and flexibility each.

The truth is, creating a good-looking and healthy body is not a piece of cake and it requires a lot of will power and determination, so do not give up when things get tough. Also, do some extra reading on proper workout methods and to what kind of food regimen you should stick to for ultimate success. Hope these tips will help you to create your own space to get bigger, better, fitter and much stronger. Now beast mode on, and please, give up the excuses!